Scarlet tanager hatches at Aquarium

photo This scarlet tanager recently hatched at the Tennessee Aquarium, perhaps a first for the species in captivity. Two scarlet tanagers were added to the Aquarium's ForestCove exhibit in 2011.

Tennessee Aquarium officials are celebrating the birth of a scarlet tanager, believed to be the first time the species has been reared in captivity.

"To me, this is the most significant bird breeding we've ever had at the Aquarium," says Kevin Calhoon, assistant curator of forests.

In a news release, Calhoon explains that scarlet tanagers are not common in captivity because they are a difficult species to acquire. The Aquarium's native bird collection mainly comprises individual birds obtained through licensed wildlife rehabilitators. These birds are nursed back to health but are deemed nonreleaseable due to their injuries. In many cases, they are not fully flighted to survive in the wild. For whatever reason, he says, scarlet tanagers don't end up needing help as frequently as other species.

So, Calhoon says, he was elated to observe a pair nesting in the Aquarium's Cove Forest exhibit.

"It's such a natural environment with a lot of tulip poplars and other mature trees," he says. "Even though a lot of visitors pass through the Cove, the birds have plenty of room and habitat. As a result, they are comfortable enough that they display all of their natural behaviors, including courtship and breeding."

Hundreds of native songbirds have hatched since the Aquarium opened in 1992, but this might be the first time a scarlet tanager has been reared in a zoo or aquarium.

"I have checked with other bird experts at the Columbus Zoo, Minnesota Zoo and some of their colleagues with large native songbird collections," says Calhoon. "They were all very excited about this news because as far as anyone knows, scarlet tanagers have never been bred on exhibit before."

Calhoon has placed the baby bird in an enclosure to prevent it from falling into the trout stream or otter exhibit below.

"In the wild, cup nesters like tanagers or robins don't have a very safe environment, so they fledge about two weeks after hatching," says Calhoon. "The parents still watch over and feed the babies on the ground, which is why people should leave fledglings alone. If it looks like the baby has fallen out of a nest, the parents are still caring for it. Most of the time they'll be fine if you just leave them alone."

Native songbirds that are raised on exhibit cannot be released into the wild, so this new addition will either move into the Delta Country exhibit or will be donated to another zoo or aquarium.

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